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It could be a telling indictment indictment on a town that one of the major tourist attractions is the cemetery but with one time kiwi and Bourke lover Fred Hollows buried there and Constable McCabe fatally wounded by Captain Moonlight and a functional if primitive mosque and even a pet cemetery Bourke's final resting place should not be missed.

The Bourke stockade, the paddle steamer, North Bourke Bridge, May's Bend, The old wharf, old train stations and many fine buildings give the town great ambience and less than 10km from town you hit the red dirt of the real outback and adventure really starts.

www.visitbourke.com

www.seeaustralia.com

http://www.bourke.local-e.nsw.gov.au/tourism.html

National Parks

With the purchase of Toorale for $23,000,000 the area will soon have 4 national parks within it's boundaries. Toorale had some 300 people working on it and was used in the cotton industry. The government has bought back the water rights and preserved another ecologically important piece of Australia. Some locals I spoke to were less than happy as was a major employer but I for one think this is progress worth having.

Toorale now national park

Gundabooka national park which has magnificent cave drawings plus a great camping area which is 50km south west of Bourke towards Cobar.

Mount Gunderbooka rises to 500 m among the rust-coloured cliffs, gorges and hills of the Gunderbooka Range. The region is of great significance to the local Ngemba people and the range has a history of ceremonial gatherings and rock art.

The Culgoa national park

Highlights: Sit in the shade of the coolabah trees flanking the floodplain of the Culgoa river, watch the passing bustards, falcons, honeyeaters and cockatoos or the kangaroos and emus on the open grass plains.

Activities: Walk along the riverbank through coolabah woodlands or over sand hills carpeted in wildflowers following spring rains. There's a small camping and picnic area suitable for car-based and caravan camping (few facilities, phone NSW parks for details).

Access: 100 km north of Brewarrina or 180 km north east of Bourke. Unsealed dry-weather roads only. Obtain directions before visiting the park

The Sturt national park

Highlights: The park protects an enormous arid landscape of space and solitude. The rolling red-sand dunes of the Strzelecki desert ripple through the western section, graduating past surprising wetlands surrounded by white sands. Flat-topped mesas and fantastic views characterise the central Jump-Up country. Remnant gidgee woodland, the catchment system of the ephemeral Twelve-Mile Creek and gibber and grass-covered plains dominate the east, while 450 million year old granite tors surrounding Tibooburra form part of the southern boundary of the park.

Activities: Enjoy the self-guided loop drives accessible by 2WD or go 4WD trekking along the Middle Road, passing through uniquely diverse landscape with lookouts along the way providing magnificent views. Explore the walks at Fort Grey, Olive Downs, Dead Horse Gully and to the Mt Wood summit — most are easy to moderate and allow for a short loop walk of 1 to 3 hours. The four 2WD-accessible campsites are equipped with free gas barbecues and toilets. But bring your own drinking water and please respect the 'no wood-fire' policy. Camping fees apply. Mt Wood Historic Homestead and Shearers' Quarters are available for accommodation; both have kitchen and bathroom facilities;

Access: 400 km west of Bourke (unpaved). Check the conditions after rain as roads may be closed.